Provincetown, MA on Cape Cod: P-Town Tips and Photos!

Best Beach Town in Massachusetts… or America?

Well, check YOU out, Massachusetts! Provincetown, MA — the tip of Cape Cod — was named the #1 beach townin all of America by Travel and Leisure Magazine!

I shall now support that thesis by sharing 17 gorgeous photos of the town that I snapped during my visit this summer. Perhaps this will be a motivating kick in the rump for folks to visit P-Town before the weather turns cold!

Me having fun with boas on Commercial Street.

The Provincetown Ferry from Boston

Travel to Provincetown is easiest via the high-speed ferry from Boston which takes just 90 minutes… and is a tourist attraction in itself. Drink in the salt-slapped air, watch the nautical sights, and join the spontaneous parties on deck if you’re so inclined!

The alternative is a 3-hour (or longer) drive from Boston, which can be pleasant if you prepare for possible traffic delays, take the journey at the speed it comes, and have a plan for parking upon arrival if it’s the high season.

Boats in P-Town harbor during the “Golden Hour.”

Hotels in Provincetown, MA

Yay! You’ve arrived! So, where to stay in Provincetown? Below are TripAdvisor’s top hotels in P-town, which you can click on to check availability and automatically compare rates to get the best deal:

It’s an interesting calculus with Provincetown about whether it makes more sense to do a day trip versus staying a night or more, but I’m of the school that if you CAN stay overnight, it’s worth it to get the full Cape relaxation experience… and taste the nightlife if you desire! (Cue thumping club beats.)

Dramatic lobster roll close-up.

Provincetown Restaurants… Lobster!

Mmm… how do you feel after seeing that luscious lobster roll photo? Foodis a top reason to visit Provincetown, which you can read about in depth (yes, with more drool-inducing pictures) in my previous article on the most delicious yet affordable food of P-Town. Hint: There’s a dish in there that you wouldn’t expect in a beach town, but it is tasty as heck.

The walkway to Race Point Beach.

Beautiful Provincetown Beaches

What aboutthe beaches? Right in the center of town, there are sweet little beaches such as the one pictured below, but the real expanse-of-white-sand gems are a few minutes outside of town.

Race Point Beach (pictured above and in the first photo of this article), and Herring Cove Beach (famous for its sunsets since its ocean horizon faces west).

I love the colors and lines of this “resting boats” photo.

Commercial Street: Shopping Heart of P-Town

While I love beaches, I had even more fun in Provincetown wandering Commercial Street: the central shopping strip bursting with colorful goods, quirky architecture, and the best people watching for miles around. T

hough there’s plenty to buy — art, clothes, food, trinkets, and more — you don’t have to spend a penny to have a delightful day of window shopping. Let’s stroll and see!

Even the architecture in Provincetown is fun.

Rainbow Colored Buildings

If you enjoy that purple building from P-Town shown above and are interested in an international trip, I highly recommend the Caribbean island of Curacao for its colorful buildings! The word used in Curacao for “sweet and delightful” is “Dushi,” and Provincetown demonstrates dushi to the max.

Wanna buy a buoy (or ten)?

Color and Art Everywhere

Another place around the world that has embraced public color is Old San Juan, Puerto Rico. Both P-Town and San Juan know how bright hues on buildings and public art can lift a person’s spirit.

Looking back at the town from the pier to the ferry.

Other Colorful Places in America

Scrolling these P-Town photos, I’m reminded of some of the other rainbow-colored destinations I’ve toured around the world. The Corning Glass Museum in the Finger Lakes of New York State, for example, has a similar glowing exuberance.

The iconic Pilgrim Monument at the center of town.

Art and Artists in P-Town

Provincetown has long been a haven for artists, in part because of its famed perfect light. (P-Town is on the tip of Cape Cod), and thus sunlight streams in from all sides. It’s one of the few places on the East Coast where it’s easy to see a sunSET over the ocean, as well as sunrise.

In fact, Provincetown is the oldest art colony in America!

A shopping arcade off Commercial Street.

Another Art Colony in America

The artist culture is so strong in P-Town that when I was visiting Lowe Mill artist studios in Huntsville, Alabama, many of the artists there had either spent time in Provincetown, MA or were in touch with other creatives there.

Feathery flowers, sand, grass, and sky at Race Point Beach.

Pilgrims: History of Provincetown, MA

Here is a very important detail about the illustrious history of P-Town, Cape Cod: FOUR HUNDRED years ago, in 1620, the Pilgrims first landed in Provincetown Harbor! Now you know why the town’s famous Pilgrim Monument is named as it is…

A riot of purple flowers.

Check Events Before Planning a P-Town Vacation

In closing, I highly encourage a Provincetown, MA vacation, but do want to give you a warning: Carefully check the schedule on the Provincetown Chamber website to know what events are happening on any given week.

Provincetown is extremely popular, and there are frequent themed gatherings that affect accommodation availability, traffic, and so on. It’s sure still worth a visit, though!

Want to paint your house this electric blue design?

Do You Also Love Provincetown, MA?

So what do you think? Does Provincetown seem like a spot you’d like to visit? If you’ve been, what tips would you add? Comment away!

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The author, Lillie Marshall, is a National Board Certified Teacher of English who has written over 700 articles on Around the World "L" Travel Blog since 2009, becoming a respected source of advice on educational travel.. and creating joy in everyday life! Lillie launched Teaching Traveling in 2010, which is now one of the internet's most extensive communities of global education expertise. Lillie is mother to two young children, and has been a Boston educator since 2003.

Wow, number 1 beach town in all of America? That’s making an incredibly big claim. I’m not sure I can get on board with that just yet. I mean, have they been to every beach town in America? Well, with a lobster roll like that, I can at least try it! It’s hard to convince a west coast girl that an east coast beach is best.

OMG, I so love this post and the photos! I’ve read a whole series of books set in Provincetown, and a couple of stand alone novels, and seeing the place is such an amazing experience. I’d love to spend a few weeks there in the future.

Since 1990, I have visited PTOWN every summer during Carnival week in mid-August. Sadly my last time was in 1995 and haven’t had the opportunity to return. But oh, how my heart aches for this little slice of heaven at the tip of Cape Cod. Every year, my friend and I would drive six hours each way for 10 glorious days at the Haven House, no longer there I am afraid but so quaint and charming and one of the very few places that had a built-in swimming pool! You just unleashed a flood of memories of so many cherished moments from those summers so long ago!!

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Lovely to meet you! I’m Lillie Marshall, a 6-foot tall Teacher, Traveler, and Boston mama who’s created over 700 articles on Around the World “L” Travel and Life Blog since 2009. Do explore, share, and enjoy! [Learn More…]